The “Proverbs 31 woman.” You may as well say “wonder woman” or
“supermom!” Just the thought of that female dynamo is enough to
intimidate me. Then I realized, whether we are a stay-at-home moms, have
grown children and now care for aging parents; work full-time, part-time,
are business owners or any combination thereof, we have all become
twenty-first century Proverbs 31 women! Multitasking is standard operating
procedure. We have begun to wear our busyness as a badge of
honor. Being stressed out, running on empty and exhausted is the norm.
As with everything, however, there is a price. Whether we experience physical, mental or emotion stress,it all takes a toll on our health. From our mid-thirties on, most of us suffer some degree of adrenal fatigue and don’t even realize it. Never heard of adrenal fatigue? Many main stream doctors do not even recognize this extremely common condition. Dr. Lynne Kavulich, best-selling author, clinical nutritionist and anti-aging specialist confirms:
“Adrenal fatigue is a level of impaired function that impacts your quality of life dramatically. It is a very real and major concern for the majority of women.”
Common symptoms are: fatigue, weight gain, depression, anxiety, dizziness, low blood pressure and blood sugar, inability to concentrate and a general feeling of unwellness.
BIOLOGY 101
We each have two tiny adrenal glands, which control hormone production. Their primary function is to release stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) only when we perceive danger or stress. Our frenetic twenty-first century lifestyles cause our adrenals to pump out those stress hormones constantly. This results in adrenal fatigue.
HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?
Your doctor will do a full physical exam including blood work in order to rule out other problems. Dr. Kavulich advises that salivary hormone testing is also an excellent, convenient method for measuring adrenal hormones.
Conventional medicine tends to focus on specific disease conditions. Cortisol levels within a very broad range are considered normal. So, even if yours are normal, you may still be experiencing adrenal fatigue.
WHAT DO I DO?
Here are five simple, natural keys to help your body support healthy adrenal function.
Key #1 – Improve your diet
Dr. Kavulich advises that, “Intestinal dysfunction almost always accompanies adrenal stress. Intestinal efficiency, including the ability to absorb nutrients diminishes.”
Action steps:
-Reduce carbs, sugar and caffeine;
-Limit or avoid processed foods;
-Increase nutrient dense, whole foods – fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein;
-Include L-glutamine, an amino acid that Dr. Kavulich suggests may help improve intestinal absorption during stress;
-Stay well hydrated. Try to consume one-half your body weight in ounces of water daily.
Key # 2 – Adequate Rest and Sleep
Dr. Kavulich notes that some types of adrenal stress may cause insomnia. This creates a vicious cycle since your adrenals are replenished between 11:00 pm and 1:00 am.
Action Steps:
-10-30 milligrams of zinc per day taken before bed may be indicated in order to improve your sleep pattern and lower cortisol levels;
-Schedule time daily to rest and do something you find enjoyable and relaxing such as taking a walk, listening to music, talking with a friend or practicing a hobby.
Key #3 – Reduce Emotional Stress
How you perceive your life can dramatically affect adrenal function as well as general health. Proverbs 23:7 clearly tells us "As a man thinks in his heart so is he” and Dr. Kavulich agrees. “Constant, negative thoughts lead to overproduction of adrenal hormones that can make us grumpy, fat and exhausted.”
Action steps:
-Dr. Kavulich recommends feeding ourselves nurturing thoughts and surrounding ourselves with encouraging and supportive people. Just as David did, we can learn to encourage ourselves (1Samuel 3:6).
-God’s Word is overflowing with encouragement, and prayer is the original stress reducer.
-Exercise is a very good way to enable your body and mind to relax and recharge. There’s also the added bonus of releasing endorphins which are feel-good chemicals.
-Dr. Kavulich suggests replacing some of your exercise with easy walking, which increases circulation and builds small aerobic fibers, resulting in more fat burning and improved adrenal function.
Key #4 – Supplement What is Missing
Since none of our diets are perfect, supplements bridge the gap.
-Include a whole food multivitamin/mineral
supplement for general health and to cover any
nutritional deficiencies you may have.
Consuming an alkalizing green drink, like spirulina or wheat grass daily may be helpful as they are excellent whole food sources of trace minerals as well as many other nutrients necessary for adrenal health.
Key # 5 – The Power Twins
This final key has two parts – balance and consistency. These are keys for spiritual as well as physical health.
-Think about Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Working to the exclusion of everything else is unhealthy. Neglecting your home or family to study and worship is unscriptural as well (1Timothy 5:8). A balanced life is a healthy life.
-If we desire a powerful prayer life, we must spend time with God - daily. If we desire vibrant health and energy, we must do those things – daily - that build us physically. Consistency pays excellent dividends.
FINAL WORD
God created us to live vibrant, fruitful lives (John 10:10). Consistently practicing these five keys will enable us to be balanced, healthy twenty-first century Proverbs 31 women who shine brightly for God without burning ourselves out.
Ann Musico
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